Nguyen Tat Thanh University to apply the model of creative educational activities – STEM in teaching and training

STEM is an abbreviation of the words ‘Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics’, often used when discussing development policies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics of each country.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – STEM is one of the fields that Nguyen Tat Thanh University has paid special attention to in recent years. In 2021, NTTU made the decision to implement a primary university-level research topic, which is “Management of STEM education training activities for lecturers in the Mekong Delta of Nguyen Tat Thanh University” by Dr. Nguyen Lan Phuong, Vice President, Vice Director of the Interdisciplinary Institute for Social Sciences as the project leader. Since March 2021, the Board of Directors and the Board of Presidents of Nguyen Tat Thanh University have directed the Science and Technology Department, the Interdisciplinary Institute for Social Sciences to conduct research and deploys application models of creative educational activities – STEM through the form of laboratories (STEM LAB) at two campuses: Campus An Phu Dong – District 12 and House N1 – Thu Duc District. This activity is carried out with the aim of promoting close linkages with localities, organizations, businesses and experts in order to promptly strengthen effective support solutions in promoting STEM education programs in Vietnam at universities, especially focusing on high school level education associated with the content of career orientation and vocational training through specific activities:

• Research and develop a STEM curriculum for each grade of high school.
• Investment on proper and sufficient facilities for research and model application
• Coordinate with the local education sector to organize training to improve STEM teaching capacity for high school teachers, ensuring that all teachers are trained to meet the requirements from methodological approaches to methods to use – manufacture.
• Focusing on technology application but not forgetting searching for easy-to-find, user friendly and from surroundings materials, especially elements with local characteristics of each place, creating new and creative features but approachable and usable to both teachers and students.
• Coordinate with the Youth Union, Student Support Center in Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces to organize seminars with parents and students to consolidate knowledge through teaching activities at school as well as at home, especially orienting students’ future careers in accordance with their personal circumstances and abilities while also meeting the needs of society in the new context, from there promoting student recruitment.

This will be a place to train high school teachers, high school students…

Up to now, the STEM LAB laboratory of Nguyen Tat Thanh University at An Phu Dong campus – District 12 has been completed and is ready to put into operation. With an area of more than 80m2, connected to the library area to support teachers and high school students in the process of searching documents and working in groups, this will be a place for training high school teachers and students (both face-to-face and online), displaying smart learning devices, activity areas: I love science; Computer – Robot and 3D Printer…

This is also a place to display smart learning devices, experience areas for the following activities: I love science; Computer – Robot and 3D Printer

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Hong – President, Director of the Interdisciplinary Institute for Social Sciences, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, shared: “We want to bring an innovative educational program – STEM in the broadest sense, which is a teaching orientation with practical applied learning philosophy associated with real life activities, not just limited to teaching students to conduct physical, chemistry experiments or assemble and program a specific robot. It is like doing an experiment. You may find it easy, however to help students understand the nature of the experiment and make connections with the applications of life, it will be more complicated. Hence, we consider the role of the teacher to be extremely important. Therefore, this team must be trained and provide teaching methods that are really scientific, attractive, exciting and raise interests for students.

The space of the laboratory is full of creativity and aesthetics

To further clarify the research orientation and implementation of the innovative educational model – STEM of Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Dr. Nguyen Lan Phuong, Vice President, Vice Director of the Interdisciplinary Institute for Social Sciences said: ‘We think of establishing STEM training centers the same as in many other countries. For example, in the UK, the National STEM Center organizes training, develops programs, calls for funding, creates a real STEM ecosystem (including the participation of the government, technology companies, universities…). Hopefully, Nguyen Tat Thanh University in the coming future, with proper investment and with a team of prestigious and experienced researchers and experts in this field, especially in coordination with other organizations like STEAM FOR VIET NAM, technology enterprises like Artificial Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd – AiTT, together with the responsible participation of local leaders, we will create many positive changes for innovative educational activities – STEM in the Mekong River Delta region.